More Information
| Botanical Name |
Lycopersicon lycopersicum |
| Seeds Per Pack |
25 |
| Life Cycle |
Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate |
5 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate |
10 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds |
1/4 in. |
| When to Sow |
Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost |
| Growing Height |
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Plant Spacing |
24-36 in. (60-90 cm) |
| Hardiness |
N/A |
| Sun Exposure |
Full Sun |
| Danger |
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested |
| Growth Habit |
Indeterminate |
| Soil pH Requirements |
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Days to Harvest |
70-80 |
| Propagation Methods |
From herbaceous stem cuttings, From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel, From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting |
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds, Ferment seeds before storing |
| Open Pollinated (OP) |
Yes |
| Usage |
Fresh, salad, Fresh, slicing |
| Fruit Color |
Bicolor, Red, Yellow |
| Fruit Size |
Medium (under one pound) |
Thorburn’s Lemon Blush is a storied American heirloom introduced in 1893 by the Thorburn seed company after a decade of breeding work by Elbert S. Carman, later renamed Lemon Queen in 1912, then rescued from near extinction by seed saver William Woys Weaver. Smooth, slightly flattened beefsteaks ripen to a clear lemon yellow with a rosy salmon blush that can deepen as the season goes on, giving the fruit a soft peach-like glow, with sizes often in the 6 to 8 ounce range but sometimes delightfully variable. The flesh is firm yet juicy, nearly coreless, and low in seeds, offering a mild fruity sweetness with tropical notes and a beautifully balanced, refreshing tang. Indeterminate vines are vigorous and typically begin producing in about 75 days from transplant, so give them strong support and savor this luminous slicer fresh, in salads, or as a bright, elegant addition to summer sandwiches.
